Candy-making machine.



E. R. KNOTT.

CANDY MAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG30| |910.

1138j,576 Patented May A, 1915.

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THE NDRRIS PETERS COI. PHOT0-LITHO., WASHINGIYJN. D, 1

E. R. KNOTT.

CANDY MAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AuG.30. |910'.

Patented May 4, 1915.

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EUSTACE R. KNOTT, OF SHARON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO E. R. KNOTTMACHINE COMPANY, 0F BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OFMASSACHUSETTS.

CANDY-MAKING MACHINE.

' To all whom 'it may concern.'

`into short pieces of the proper size for the desired confections, thesaid device having means for feeding the reduced batch lengthwise tovthe device, of a section-cutter by which the reduced batch is separatedbetween the reducer and' the feeding means of the confection-cutter, sothat the portion which is in advance and being acted upon by theconfection-cutter may have a rate of feed of its own, independent of therate at which the remainder ofthe batch follows from the reducer. Byseparating the batch at an intermediate point, tendency to drawing orstretching of thebatch between the batch-reducer and confection-cutter,in case of loss in rate of delivery at the reducer or gain in the rateof feed at the confectioncutter, with resulting change in diameter andvariation in the size of the confections formed therefrom, is obviated.Thus, aseotion which is being separated into small pieces by aconfection-cutter, will be permitted to advance independently ofthesucceeding portion of the batch, and to travel faster than the Vlatterfollows in case the rate of feed of the said section at theKVconfection-cutter or other device yfor operating thereon should gainon the rate of feed at the adjacent batch-reducer.

The invention also includes various improvements in the construction ofa rotary -spinner or batch-reducer.

lt also includes other features and combinations which are pointed outin the claims. f

An embodiment of the invention is represented in the drawings, in whichlatter, Figure 1 shows in side elevation a com.- bined machinecontaining the dilerent fea.- tures of the invention, the casing beingin section in a vertical pla-ne extending length: wise of the machineFig f3 iS a Partiel P18@ Specification of Letters Patent. .n Patentedflay 4 1915. Application med August 3o, 1910. serial No. 579,731.

thereof, the casing and the first spinner being omitted, F ig. 3 is aview in section in the plane of line 3, 3, of Fig. 1, looking toward theleft inthe latter figure, on an enlarged scale. Fig. i is a sideelevation of one of the spinners, detached, on the enlarged scale ofFig. 3, with certain small portions .of stand 7 and boss 6 broken away.Fig. 5 is a detail view of one of the cones of a spinner, and itssupporting bearing.

The features of the invention are shown embodied in a combined machine,represented inFigs. 1 and 2, of which the characteristic elements arethe iirst rotary spinner or batch-reducer A, the second rotary spinneror batch-reducer B, the section-cutter @,the confection-cutter D, andthe driving'connections having provisions for varying the relativespeeds of the successive devices. Abatch of plastic candy supplied tothe first spinner A is, by the action of the latter, caused to passtherethrough and in itspassage is drawn out and reduced indiameter,being made uniform in size throughout its length. The said batch may besupported by hand at the entrance to the said spinner, or it may be laidupon a convenient batch-supporter ad] acent such entrance.

Figs. 1 and 4f illustrate the emyployment vof a concaveor trough-shapedbatch-supporter 1. Passing from spinner A to spinner B, the batch isfurther reducedand eX- Y tended in being acted upon by spinner B. Anintermediate batch-support 2 is shown in Fig. 1 between spinner A andspinner B, at the entrance to the latter. Issuing from spinner B, thebatch advances along a` supporting guideway 3 past the section-cutter C,by which latter ,it is separated at intervals into l sections ofintermediate length. Each section in turn is cut up by theconfection-cutter D into short pieces of the required size for theconfections to be produced.

Each of the Spinners shown in the drawings consists, essentially, of agroup or nest of cones el, 1i, etc., Figs. 1, 3 and 1, a rotatarier, andwhich incloses a central space or passage for the reception of thebatchy of candy to be reduced. r1`hey are set close together in the saidseries, with their axes converging, so that the central space or passagetapers gradually from the' entrance thereof at the large ends of theconestoward the exit at the small ends of the cones. The respective axesof theindividual cones have a slight transverse inclination or obliquitywith relation to the prolongation of the axis of the carrier, so thatthe said axes cross the said axis at the small ends of the coneswithout, however, intersecting said axis. In operation, the batch ofcandy to be reduced is passed into the central space at the large 'endof the latter until it is engaged with the surfaces of the cones. Thedirection of the rotation of the respective cones upon their individualaxes is the same as that in which the carrier and series of concs arerevolved. Consequently the cones roll around in con tact with theexterior of the batch. At the same time, because of the Obliquity oftheir individual axes with reference to the axis of rotation of thecarrier, the rotation of the respective cones about their saidindividual axes acts to impel or feed the batch toward the small ends ofthe cones. The rolling action,rtalring place concurrently with theendwisefeed of the batch, operates to reduce the batch gradually indiameter until it has assumed the size of the exit at the small ends ofthe cones and passes therethrough.

In thecase of embodiments of certain of the combinations herein claimedas of my invention the precise character or construction ofthe'batch-reducer or spinner is not material and may vary in practice.In some cases a batch-reducer of other approved -type may be employed. Iprefer, however, to employ a batchreducer of the rotary or spinner typeherein shown and described, and certain of the special features of mypresent invention have reference more particularly thereto. Thesefeatures are shown in the drawings. In the embodiment thereof that isshown in the latter, the carrier 5 is made, f or convenience, as a diskor wheel having a hub or short sleeve 5a and a central eye or opening.1t is mounted upon a bearing-support that consists of a long tubularboss 6 projecting from a fixed stand 7, the said stand having an openingS therethrough, (shown in Fig. 4,) which registers with the centralopening or passage 61, Figs. 8 and t, through the boss. The opening 8 ofthe stand 7, and the opening or passage 6 within the bearing-support 6,are in line with the central space inclosed by the nest of cones, (seeFigs. 3 and 4), and the batch of candy passes therethrough to enter intothe said central space. The tubular boss 6 constitutes a guide for thebatch as the latter enters the spinner. Being stabeinO ad'acent the saiddiskaortion.

tionary or non-rotative such guide has no tendency to turn or twistthefbatch. 1f a rotating guide were employed at this point in themachine, the Contact of its inner surface with the batch would tend toturn and twist the latter. The cones il, 4f, etc., are located entirely'at the delivery side of the disk-portion of carrier 5, their large endsFor the support of each cone upon the carrier I employ, by preference,along sleeve-bearing and a long pintle fitting together, one thereofbeing provided in connection with the carrier and the other with thecone. In the preferred 'constructiom the cone is hollow from itslargeend for a considerable portion of its lengta, and the bearing isextended lengthwise into the cone a. considerable distance so that itserves to support the cone for a large portion of the length of thelatter against springing under strain acting thereon atand adjacent itstip.

` In the drawings, the sleevebearing is vprovided at 9 in connectionwith the carrin the bearing, and the rate of wear is reduced. Therotating of the respective cones upon their individual axes is effectedin the said embodiment by means of pinions 11, 11, etc., fixed upon theportions of the pintles 10, 10, etc., which project through thesleeve-bearings 9, 9, etc., and a centrallylocated bevel gear-wheel 12with which the said pinions engage, the Said bevel gearwheel beingformed upon a hub 12"L which is Sleeved upon tubular boss 6 alongsidehub 5a of carrier 5. In operation, rotary motion is communicated tobevel gear-wheel 12 and to carrier 5, in the same direction but atdifferent speeds, the gear-wheel being driven moreY slowly than thecarrier, the result being that as the rotation of the carrier revolvesthe series of cones around the axis of the carrier the gear-wheel 12acts through its engagement with pinions 11, 11, etc., like a rack tocause the respective ycones to r0- tate, the rotation of the said gearwheel in the samedirection as the carrier at a properly-proportionedslower rate serving to cause the cones to rotate at the proper relativerate of speed in the same direction upon their individual axes. Thecarrier 5 and bevel gear-wheel 12 are driven at the proper speedrelative to each other by means of suitable gearing from an actuatingshaft, marked 13 in the case of spinner A, and 13a in the case ofspinner B. In the case of spinner A, the said v.gearing comprises aspur-pinion 14, Figs. 2 and 3, fixed on the .formed integral with thehub 12a of the Said bevel gear-wheel, va spur-gear 16, with whichgear-wheel 15 is in mesh, fixed upon a short side-shaft 17 supported inbearings in standards 18, one of which is shown in Fig. 3, and a secondspurfgear 19 fixed Von short shaft 17 and meshing with spur-teeth formedon the periphery of the carrier 5. ln Lthe case of spinner Bthegearconnections with shaft 13mi are similar to those just described,save that the toothed wheel 14a on shaft 153a is much larger in diameterin proportion than pinion 111, inasmuch as 'spinner B must operate at arelatively-increased speed.

- One aim in connection with the rotary spinner is to cause the conesthereof1 to revolve around the inclosed portion of the batch of candywithout rotating or twisting the candy. This aim is'attained preferably`by so disposing the said cones that the inclosed space shall be ofproper'- proportions to just receive another cone of the same size,etc., and by so proportioning the gearing that a revolution of a conewith the carrier Vand arotation of the cone upon its individvualaxisshall be performed in equal time.

By thus proportioning the Vincl'osed space so that the formed mass ofcandy occupying the same shall just correspond in Ashape and size withone of the cones of the spinner, and proportioning the gearing so thateach outside cone shall. rotate just once on its own axis in revolvingonce around the candy, the respective cones will simply roll around thecandy without tendency to rotate or twist the candy itself. The sameresult may be attained in cases in which the inclosed space differs insize from the cones of the spinner, by proportioning the gearing so thatthe surface speed of a cone in rotating upon its individual axis shalljust equal the speed at which the coneis caused to travel around uponthe exterior' of a conical mass of candy occupying the said-space. Y

For working hard candy, as in the manufacture of stick candy, cones areemployed having smooth surfaces, to thereby avoid any tendency toroughen the surface of the candy, and to avoid feeding the candy alongtoo fast. For working upon soft candy, as in the manufacture of molasseskisses and the like, the cones will have longitudinally-grooved surfacesor the Said surfaces will be otherwise adapted to take hold unisontherewith, the portion of the pintle which projects beyond the forwardend of;

the sleeve-bearing 9 is made tapering, and the bore in the body. of thecone is made correspondingly tapering to fit the said'portion of thepintle. Thev cone is forced tightly upon the pintle, into firmfrictional engagement therewith. .The extremity of thepinjtle isscrew-threaded and receives a washer 22 and nut 22a which hold the bodyof the cone in place upon the pintle. A recess 22h in the .end of thecone-body receives th washer andpartly receives the nut. The tips 1a.4a, etc., of the cones are mad as separate pieces and are combined withthe body-portions of the cones in manner rendering them readilyremovable and replaceable. rIhis is conveniently provided for, as shownin Fig. 5, by forming in the butt ends of the said cone-tipsinternally-threaded holes which fit portions of the screw-thread edextremities of pintles..10, 10, etc., that project beyond the ends ofthebody-portions of the cones. formedwith arecess partly receiving the nut2:23*l on the corresponding pintle. One set of tips may be unscrewedfrom the cones and another set screwed on in the place thereof. Byproviding sets of tips of different length and size, the diameter of theexitopening at the small ends of the cones be varied, with correspondingvariation-in the diameter of the batch as it issues from the spinner.

Then it is desired to render the exterior of the reduced batch smooth asit leaves the spinner, and obviate the production of spiral ridges orthreads thereon by the ends of the cones, the small ends of the conesare so shaped, as exemplified in the drawings, that the portion of theinternal space which is inclosed by such ends is cylindrical for adistance longer than the extent of feed for one revolution of thespinner. This construction yprovides for pressing or ironing out threadsor ridges.

When working hard candy, to avoid chilling the surface of the candy,provision is or may be made by means of suitable heating arrangementsfor warming the spinners, the section-cutter. the confection-cutter, andother parts with which the batch of candy makes contact in travelingthrough the machine. The drawings show a gas-pipe 23 extended the lengthof the combined mav chine, below the spinners and cutters, and furnishedat Vintervals with burner tips 94, 24, etc. Steam-pipes orelectric-heaters might be used instead.

v The section-cutter C may be of any approved construction suitable forthe purpose of separating the batch into sections of intermediate lengthat intervals as it `advances from spinner B. In the present instance itconsists of .a pair yof rolls 25, 25

The butt end of each tip/is Y rotating on upright axes at opposite sides'of guideway 3, and each furnished with a cutting blade QG. By suchblades coming together in the rotation of the said rolls atpredetermined times in the working of the machine the separation of thebatch into sections is effected. The rolls are geared together by meansof spur kgear-wheels 27, 27, to cause them to rotate at the same speed,and are driven from shaft 13 by means of a bevel gear-wheel 9.8 fixed onthe lower end of the shaft of one of the rolls and meshing with a bevelgear-wheel 29 fixed on the said shaft 13a.

rThe confection-cutter D illustrated in the drawings is constructed asin U. S. Letters Patent No. 949,434, granted to me February 15, 1910,although in practice any approved form of device may be employedinstead. As shown, it comprises the bell-mouthed guide 30 through whichthe batch, or the leading section thereof, first passes, the pair offeed-rolls 31, 31, rotating on parallel vertical axes, the intermediateguide 32, the

pair of bladed rolls or cutters 33, 33, rotating on parallel verticalaxes, and the rotating bladed fly 34 working in the openings between theblades of the cutters 33, 33, at the delivery side of the latter, toclear and deliver therefrom the pieces or confections into which thebatch has been divided. The general construction of the device is or maylbe essentially the same as in the patent just mentioned, motion'beingtransmitted to the working parts through the upright shaft 34L anddriving mechanism in connection with the said shaft as will presently beexplained.

The driving shaft of the machine is shown at 35. It extends lengthwiseof the combined machine, and trains of driving conyneetions extend fromit to the different working devices. Such trains embrace variablespeedtransmitting mechanisms by means of which the relative speeds of thesuccessive working devices may be regulated and varied as required. @netrain at the forward end of the said shaft serves for the actuation ofthe confection-cutter and of the adjacent spinner or batch-reducer.Another train, located at the rear end of the driving shaft, serves forthe actuation of the first spinner or batch-reducer.

Referring first to the driving-train for the actuation of theconfection-cutter and the adjacent spinner or batch-reducer: A bevelgear-wheel 36 is fixed upon the forward end of driving-shaft 35. Itmeshes with a bevel gear-wheel 37 having in its hub a groove whichreceives the points of screws 38, 38, carried by the arms of astationary fork 39. The bevel gear-wheel 37 is mounted upon atransversely-extending shaft` 40 having a long spline 41 which engageswith the interior of the said bevel gear-wheel. The said spline providesfor causing the shaft 40 to turn in unison with the bevel gear-wheel 37,while permitting the said shaft to be shifted lengthwise through suchbevel gearwheel, as by means of the manually-operated yand shaft beingheld from relative shift lengthwise of the shaft, in the usual manner inthe like construction. Shaft 40 has fixed upon its inner end a drivingbrush-wheel 43, the periphery of which engages with the side-faces of apair of driven brush-wheels 44, 45, between which it is located. One ofthese driven brush-wheels, as 44, is connected with a short shaft 46carrying a bevel gearwheel 47 meshing with a like wheel 48 .on theupright shaft 34a pertaining to the confection-cutter, and motioncommunicated from brush-wheel 43 to brush-wheel 44 is transmittedthrough the described connections to the working parts of theconfectioncutter, to actuate the feed-rolls 31, 31, cutters 33, 33, andfly 34, thereof. The driven brush-wheel 45 is fixed on shaft 13, andmotion communicated to such brush-wheel .from the driving brush-wheel 43is transmitted from the shaft 132L to the sectioncutter C and spinner orbatch-reducer D through the connections which have been described. Theshafts 46 and 13n are out of line horizontally with each other, so thatwhen the driving brush-wheel 43 makes contact with driven brush-wheel 44near the center thereof it makes contact with driven brush-wheel 45 nearthe periphery of the latter, in which case the confection-cutter isdriven at a high rate of speed relative to that of the spinner orbatch-reducer B and section-cutter C. Lengthwise shift of shaft 40carrying driving brush-wheel 43 toward the periphery of drivenbrush-wheel 44 causes it to approach the center of the drivenbrush-wheel 45, in which case the speed of the confection-cutter isdecreased and that of the spinner or batch-reducer B and section-cutterC is increased.

Upon the rear end ofdriving-shaft 35 is fixed the bevel gear-wheel 50meshing with a bevel gear-wheel 51 having its grooved hub engaged by thepoints of screws carried by a stationary fork 52. Bevel gear-wheel 51 ismounted upon a longitudinally-movable shaft 53 having a spline 54 thatengages with the said gear-wheel, the said shaft having combinedtherewith. a manually-operated shifting-lever 55, and having fixed uponit a driving brush-wheel 56 which engages by its periphery with theside-face of a driven brush-wheel 57 mounted on shaft 13. Through theseconnections the shaft 13 is driven, and it actuatesl the spinner Athrough the gearing, etc., which have been described... Longitudinalvshift .of shaft 53 in the direction to carry the driving brushwheel 56toward the center of the driven brush-wheel 57 increases the speed ofthe spinner A, while shift of said shaft in the opposite direction,carrying driving brushwheel 56 toward the periphery Vof drivenbrush-wheel 57, decreases the speed of the said spinner. f

In adjusting the speeds, driving brushwheel 43 is shifted between drivenbrushwheels 44, 45, radially thereof, until the proper ratio of thespeed of spinner B and section-cutter C to that of the confectioncutterD is secured. Driving brush-wheel 'f 56 is shifted radially relative todriven brush-wheel 57 until the required ratio of the speed of spinner Ato that of spinner B has been secured Various adjustments of the speedsare found necessary in practice, because some kinds of candy feed fasterthrough the spinners than other kinds.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a candy-making machine, the combination with a batch-reducingdevice, and a confection-cutter having means for feeding the reducedbatchk lengthwise and operating to progressively separate thelongitudinally moving batch into confection-pieces, of a section-cutterby which the batch is separated between the reducing device and thefeeding means of the confection-cutter to permit the portion in advanceto have a rate of endwise feed of its own through the confectioncutter.

2. In a candy-making machine, the combination with a rotary spinnerdelivering continuously, a confection-cutter having cutterrolls betweenwhich the reduced batch feeds longitudinally with a continuous action,and a section-cutter by which the said batch is separated between thespinner and the confection-cutter so that the portion in advance mayhave a rate of feed of its own through the confection-cutter.

3. In a candy-making machine, the combination with a rotary spinner andreducer revolving around the batch of candy without turning or twistingthe latter, of'a stationary batch-support at the entrance to saidspinner and reducer by which the batch is held until drawn into thespinner.

4- In a candy-making machine, the combination with a rotary spinnercomprising a nest of cones around a central cone-shaped space, and meansfor revolving said nest around the said space and rotating the conesupon their individual axes, of a batch-support at the entrance to saidspace supporting the batch until it is drawn into the spinner by thefeeding action of the cones.

5. In a candy-making machine, the combination with a rotary spinnercomprising a nest of cones around a central cone-shaped space, and meansfor revolving said nest around the said space androtating the Vconesupon .their individual axes, of a non-rotat-` ing guide through whichthe batch enters space, andmeans for revolving said nesty around thesaid space and rotating the cones upon their individual axes, of a fixedsup-- port for the spinner having a central opening and constituting anon-rotating guide for the batch as it enters the said coneshaped spaceof the spinner.

7. In a rotary spinner for candy-making machines, in combination, arotary carrier, a pintle mounted to rotate therein and tapered for aportion of its length to form a cone-seat, and a cone having an internaltapered seat tting said cone-seat and in frictional engagementtherewith, whereby said cone and said pintle are caused to rotate inunison.

8. In a rotary spinner for candy-making4 machines, in combination, arotary carrier, a pintle mounted in a bearing thereon, tapered for aportion of its length, and having a screw-thread, a cone having aninternal seat fitting the tapered portion of the spindle, and a nutapplied to said screw-thread and holding the cone in frictionalengagement with the said tapered portion.

9. In a rotary batch spinner, a nest of cones having the small endsthereof constructed to smooth the batch leaving the same, and means forrotating said nest around the batch.

l0. In a rotary batch spinner, a nest of cones having the small endsthereof converging and enlarged and constructed to smooth the batchleaving the same, and means for rotating the said nest around the batch.

1l. In a rotary spinner for candy-making machines, the nest of coneshaving the small ends thereof shaped to enclose a space which iscylindrical for a distance exceeding the extent of feed for one rotationof the spinner and means for rotating the said nest around the batch ofcandy.

12. In a rotary spinner for candy-making machines, in combination, acarrier, a nest of cones inclosing a cone-shaped space of the same sizeand proportions asl one of said cones, and operating means whereby arevolution of a cone with the carrier and a rotation of the cone uponits individual axis are caused to take place in equal time.

13 In a rotary spinner for candy-making machines, in combination, acarrier, a nest of cones inclosing a cone-shaped space, and operatingmeans whereby the surface speed of a cone in rotating upon itsindividual axis shall just equal the speed at which the cone is causedto travel around upon the exterior Aof a conical mass of candy occupyingthe said space, to obviate tendency to rotation or twisting of the candyitself.

14. The combination of a frame provided 5 with a horizontally-disposed,hollow, cy- `lindrical, stationary member forming a comi', in convergingrelations and also each prol'fvided with a gear, shafts mounted in theCopies of this patent may be obtained for iive cents each, by addressingthe "Commissioner of Patents,V

bearings, conical reducing and drawing rolls Washington, D. G.

